Cleaning the canvas top

[J Witt]

The top on my phaeton is dirty, mostly dust and some light staining from unknown sources. It's not badly soiled and from a little distance looks fine.

I've vacuumed it and that gets some of the dust out, but it needs a more aggressive cleaning than just vacuuming.

Anyone have a favorite process? I'm planning to get some of Meguire's top cleaner, but it has some so-so reviews.

This top was put on the car in 1974, as near as I can determine, and it has been years since it was folded. It is smooth and tight and in quite good condition.

John

[Vic Piano]

On the Haartz Cloth (canvas) convertible tops on my cars (I like black tops) I use a vacuum to get the dust off. I use a mild dish washing liquid diluted with warm water and apply it with a soft brush and rinse thoroughly with water. I put the tops down frequently, and sometimes leave them down for extended periods (another reason why I like black tops, the wrinkles don't show as much)

[V12Bill]

I use Wool-ite to clean my canvas top. Work up a good foam, scrub with a stiff bristle brush and rinse.

[Karl Wescott]

My dad (late Dee Wescott) always recommended rubbing corn starch into the fabric with a stiff brush (to absorb oils and dirt), then thoroughly vacuuming.

[Joe Shell]

I have used Wool lite on my 36 Cabriolet and it did a good job. Wet the entire top then apply the Wool ite foam with a soft bristle brush, rinse thoroughly and wipe with a clean white terry cloth towel. Leave car in a sunny spot for top to dry.

[G.M.]

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Originally Posted by Vic Piano

On the Haartz Cloth (canvas) convertible tops on my cars (I like black tops) I use a vacuum to get the dust off. I use a mild dish washing liquid diluted with warm water and apply it with a soft brush and rinse thoroughly with water. I put the tops down frequently, and sometimes leave them down for extended periods (another reason why I like black tops, the wrinkles don't show as much)

That is similar to what I do except I use Ivory Snow, that was about all
that was available 65 years ago. After the top dries I spray it with a
good wet coat of the popular waterproofing. Can't think of the name
G.M.

[theHIGHLANDER]

Warm water and a Dawn dish soap. I did a 15 year old dirty top on an L-29 Cord. Added about a tablespoon of Dawn, scrubbed with old white terry towels, rinsed well with a garden hose, blotted up all the wetness I could when done. The next day it looked like gremlins came in and whipped up a new top. Since I'm too lazy to clean up after myself I had plastic sheet under the top edges and down the back. It kept the actual car mess down to about 10 min for me and a helper. 1st time I ever tried it, will never use anything again. The car sold for just short of $200K. The pics are backward, the after being the close up shot, the before maybe difficult to tell how nasty it was.

Not related in any way, but it was a rare experience to have both front wheel drive cars of the time in one setting for several weeks. The comparisons are not nice to the Ruxton, but then history isn't nice to it either. Still kool, enjoy...

[Vic Piano]

Two beautiful cars there, and the tops look good too.

[J Witt]

I did try cleaning with Dawn and lots of water. It did a fairly good job, but there is still some grey spotting on the back surface. Looks like it might be either mildew or perhaps some spotting from exhaust soot carried up by the slipstream.

I spread a tarp out under the top and down the sides to keep the water runoff out of the interior, which worked fairly well. I may have to give it another shot in a week or so.

Always liked the looks of the L-29, just gorgeous.

Thanks all,

John

[Vic Piano]

You could try using something like Simple Green or Purple Power on the spotting.

[Jwilli]

John, miss your post in the A forum. Did you sell your A?